Winos & Foodies

Last Saturday (1/17), Matt and I attended the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest. I think we count ourselves more among the foodie crowd and less with the wine enthusiast set, but it was an interesting experience and very educational. There was an insane amount of people there and if you know Matt at all, crowds are not his thing. So different from his brother Bob in that respect, who loves a trip to Disney at any moment's notice, Matt would rather pass: Too many people.

A generous Christmas gift from Bob, we set out to try some new things and gather up some interesting shots for our site. The ballroom at Mohegan Sun was filled with over 60 booths of wine makers and distributors and as we entered there was an enormous table filled with wine glasses for sampling. Each vendor had a pitcher of water and a bucket so that you could rinse your glass before trying a new wine. Not as well versed with wine as some, I scanned the tables waiting for labels to catch my eye. Ever the designer, I often find myself cruising the aisles while in the liquor store examining the creative label designs. I used this opportunity to try some new things that had caught my eye in the past but may have been to afraid to buy a whole bottle for fear of wasting it. By the end, Matt and I agreed that our favorite wine was the very first one we tried, a Sauvignon Blanc from Rodney Strong. There was also an amazing dessert wine with rich aroma of chocolate called Rosenblum Desiree.

The outer edges of the ballroom featured food vendors that complement wine, such as cheeses, or olive oils for dipping bread and crackers. One sample table had a wonderful dill flavored goat cheese from Beltane Farm in Lebanon, Connecticut. It was our first time trying goat cheese and we were delightfully surprised. Such an amazing rich and creamy flavor! This summer, I will be hunting down the various farmer's markets across the state that sell their product. Aria Extra Virgin Olive Oil also had a sampling table for dipping bread into their cold pressed olive oil, imported from Crete. I first enjoyed bread and oil when I was in Rome visiting my good friend, Julia. Sometimes it feels like you have to go far away in order to find quality ingredients and exotic flavors. The flavor of Aria is some of the best olive oil I've tasted. Keep an eye out for it in stores for your next get-together. Not wanting to commit to buying any products that day, we collected business cards to shop online at a later date. However, now visiting their web site, I wish I had snagged a bottle of oil because that day they were selling for half price!

Along the wall on the other side of the room, restaurant vendors sold small noshes. For lunch, we sampled from a bunch of different tables, looking to enjoy the variety and get some good pictures. My favorite was another first: a lamb chop with gorgonzola mashed potatoes. I have never had lamb before and figured this was a good opportunity to try it. The meat was so tender, practically melting in my mouth, and full of a rich southwestern flavor. I was so sad when minutes later our plate was empty.

Here's some shots along our food tour:

Southwest Grilled Lamb Chop on Gorgonzola Potatoes
from Bosc Kitchen & Wine Bar, Avon, CT

Seafood Risotto
from Bay Leaf Gourmet Caterers, Waterbury, CT

Chicken Taco
from SolToro Tequilia Grill at Mohegan Sun

Eggplant Rollatini
from La Vita Gustosa, East Haddam, CT

Having enjoyed the food and wine, we decided to try our luck in the casino. Because of the large crowds at the Sun, we eventually ended up at the new MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Matt found a roulette table to his liking, sat down, and proceeded to lose all we brought to play! Sometimes the little ball just doesn't bounce your way, and so it was this time. All the same, we had a wonderful Saturday, filled with food, spirit, and the thrill of the game. Thanks again, Bob!